was about $5.8 million, according to the latest proxy data analyzed by SNL Energy for a sample of 54 power and gas utility companies. The figure compares to average compensation of about $5 million in 2013, derived from a sample of 57 gas and electric utility companies.

Among the companies included in the analysis, 40 saw increases in CEO compensation and 14 saw decreases in 2014 relative to 2013 levels.

The highest-paid power and gas utility CEO in 2014 was Dominion Resources Inc.'s Chairman, President and CEO Thomas Farrell II, whose total option-adjusted compensation was approximately $17.3 million. The figure marks a notable increase from the CEO's total option-adjusted compensation in 2013 of about $10.9 million.

The average compensation of CEOs at 10 top North American midstream companies was a little more than $6.1 million in 2014, with no seeming correlation to income growth or change in stock price, an SNL Energy analysis found.

Removing two billionaires who take little to nothing in salary and make or break it based on their equity ownership in their respective firms — Kinder Morgan Inc.'s Richard Kinder and Energy Transfer Partners LP's Kelcy Warren — the average rises to almost $7.7 million.

Nether Kinder nor Warren took any additional stock or options grants to supplement their salaries of $1 and $6,921, respectively. SNL Energy analyzed the top 10 companies by market capitalization in its midstream coverage universe that did not have a CEO change in 2013-2014.